PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Heiska Kivikari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Rupponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupponen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: SMC Hoodrats. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kivikari
vs
Rupponen

180 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Coffee Shop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heiska Kivikari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Rupponen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivikari has a takedown stuffed.
Rupponen misses with a low kick.
Kivikari tries to clinch up but Rupponen circles away and keeps his distance.

Rupponen gets a takedown into half guard.

Rupponen decides to return to a standing position.

Rupponen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kivikari looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rupponen stands up and beckons Kivikari to his feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Kivikari blocks the leg kick.

Kivikari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rupponen stands and steps away. Kivikari gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rupponen shoots in and bounces Kivikari off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rupponen stands up and waves to Kivikari to follow him.
Kivikari misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivikari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rupponen should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Rupponen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rupponen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Rupponen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Rupponen stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Rupponen shoots in and bounces Kivikari off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rupponen looks gassed!

Kivikari is working an open guard so Rupponen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kivikari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rupponen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rupponen gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kivikari is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rupponen pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kivikari looking for submissions off his back.

Rupponen stands up from half guard.
Kivikari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rupponen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kivikari!

Rupponen stands up from mount. Strange move.
Kivikari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rupponen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rupponen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rupponen gets to his feet - Kivikari follows without any prompting.

Rupponen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kivikari to the mat! Kivikari manages to get full guard.

Kivikari is working an open guard so Rupponen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kivikari!

Rupponen get's back to his feet.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rupponen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kivikari!

Rupponen gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Rupponen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kivikari is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Rupponen stands up from half guard.
Kivikari wants to clinch up but Rupponen keeps it at a distance.

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kivikari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rupponen stands up and waves to Kivikari to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rupponen prevents Kivikari from improving his position.
Kivikari punching from the bottom.

Rupponen stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rupponen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rupponen stands up from mount. Strange move.

Rupponen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Rupponen stands up and beckons Kivikari to join him on the feet.
Rupponen throws a shot from downtown. Kivikari moves away and avoids it.
Kivikari tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rupponen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kivikari won't be happy with that.
Kivikari struggling a bit here.

Rupponen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Rupponen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kivikari looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rupponen stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rupponen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kivikari sprawls well initially but Rupponen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rupponen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rupponen decides to return to a standing position.
Rupponen keeps the fight on the outside.

Rupponen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kivikari wants to get back to his feet but Rupponen drags him back down.

Rupponen stands up.
Rupponen throws a body punch but Kivikari moves out of range.

Rupponen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Rupponen stands up and beckons Kivikari to his feet.

Rupponen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kivikari wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Rupponen decides to stand back up. Rupponen steps back and let's Kivikari get back to his feet.

Rupponen gets a takedown into half guard.
Kivikari wants to get back to his feet.
Kivikari wants to control but Rupponen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rupponen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Rupponen gets a takedown into half guard.
Kivikari wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen stands up and beckons Kivikari to join him on the feet.
Kivikari tries to clinch up.

Rupponen scores with a takedown into Kivikari's guard.

Rupponen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kivikari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Niko Rupponen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rupponen gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kivikari is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Rupponen decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kivikari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kivikari had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rupponen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kivikari Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rupponen's back instead.

Rupponen is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rupponen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rupponen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kivikari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rupponen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Rupponen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A head kick by Rupponen misses
and Kivikari counters with a good low kick that Rupponen was not able to check.

Rupponen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kivikari is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Rupponen stands up and beckons Kivikari to his feet.

Rupponen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Rupponen decides to stand back up.
Rupponen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rupponen counters with a shoot takedown. Kivikari fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kivikari is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rupponen is controlling him.

Rupponen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rupponen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kivikari looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rupponen stands up.
Kivikari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rupponen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kivikari won't be happy with that.

Rupponen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kivikari to his feet.

Rupponen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kivikari manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rupponen manages to get himself to full guard.
Kivikari will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rupponen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rupponen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kivikari off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kivikari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kivikari is looking for a sweep. Rupponen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rupponen escapes and gets back to his feet.

Rupponen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kivikari sprawls well initially but Rupponen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Rupponen decides to return to a standing position.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rupponen.

Rupponen decides to stand back up.

Rupponen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rupponen prevents Kivikari from getting back to his feet.
Niko Rupponen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupponen gets to his feet. Kivikari looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Rupponen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Rupponen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Rupponen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rupponen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rupponen.

Rupponen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Heiska Kivikari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rupponen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kivikari rushes Rupponen and presses him up against the cage.
Kivikari misses with an elbow strike.
Rupponen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kivikari prevents it.
Rupponen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rupponen wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivikari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kivikari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rupponen is keeping busy.
Rupponen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Heiska Kivikari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Rupponen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rupponen wants a takedown but no success here.
Rupponen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niko Rupponen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rupponen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kivikari pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kivikari wants to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rupponen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Rupponen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rupponen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Niko Rupponen!

Niko Rupponen wins by unanimous decision!